Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-28
PROGRESSIVE TOWN.
Wonderful Improvements Mt OK
ford, n. g., Since ITS Destruc.
fiou by Fire.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l

ttOn W
tCorespon ieuce Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
OXFORD, n. c., Sept. 26, 1887.
en- the 18th of last March the great
or part of this town lay in ashes, with
very little insurance on the destroyed
1ropertv. See the condition OF things
now, six months after: There have
been and are being built twenty-nine
ELEGANT brick stores, one brick tobacco
factory. two mammoth brick tobacco
warehouses, one of the largest tobacco
rrizeries in the State, four handsome
slate-covered mansions, and smaller
dwellings too numerous TO enumerate,
one town hall and market-house, and
one railroad from Oxford to GAINESVILLE,
Va. Real estate has risen greatly, and
large quantities have changed hands.
Unusual activity prevails in every
branch of business, and our people are
in better spirits than they have been
for years.
The tobacco crop in this section is
better than it has been for many years.
The greater part has been cured and is
of unusually fine quality. 1t is coming
on the market freely and is command
ing good prices. We have now here
five warehouses-the Minor" being
conducted by Minor & Jeifreys; the
"DaDner," by Bullock 81 Mitchell (; the
Meadows" by Meadows, Wilkinson
& Co. the Centre" by Hobgood,
Cozart & Co., aud the "Johnson," by
Davis & Gregory. All OF these firms
are composed of progressive, enterpri-
sing men, and it is certain that Oxford
will be better tobacco market than it
ever has been, and it has always been
one Of the leading markets of the
| State.
Heretofore we have not been engaged
to ony great extent in the manufacture
Of tobacco. Why? Because we have
not had railroad facilities. This diff
Guilty is about to be overcome. The
road to GAINESVILLE, which will soon be
completed, over five miles being already
laid with heavy steel rails, will give us
an easy and cheap route to the North
and West The road to Durham, n.
| c., will give Us additional advantages.
The subscription-books are open in
| Danville, Va, for continuation of the
Durham and Oxford road to that city.
We hope this latter road will be built
as it opens up a very rich part of North
Carolina. AS soon as these roads are
ready to carry freight we look for o
mammoth manufacturing industry In
our midst. We are in the very centre
Of the "golden belt" Of North Carolina,
and there is a grade Of fine tobacco
raised around us that cannot be pro
duced elsewhere, and there will soon
lie no reason for Chords hot being the
first tobacco-manufacturing town in the
State.
The Superior Court has been in Sos
sion here for the past two weeks. The
principal case brought up was the State
Us. Norrell Hopkins for arson burning
the town in March last). A special
rcHirc of two hundred was summoned,
and Jury of six white and six colored
was chosen. They could not agree Oh
a verdict so the prisoner was remand
ed to Jail. Two new arrests were made
of parties charged with the burning
Nike Cook "a negro and Bill Land
ing "a white MANI.
On the lat of January next Mr.. and
Mrs. l.. f. Finch, of Clarksville, Va,
will move here and publish their paper
the Banner Of Iruth) as a semi
weekly.
a neat little bi-monthly newspaper
has Just started here called the Oxford
Eosy Bee. Messrs. Herbert d Co.
are proprietors, and Mr.. Robert w.
Herbert is editor.
For the town hall and market-house
the town voted an appropriation of
$1,000 The design is convenient and
handsome. DEV.